The American’s skill and charisma has been a highlight of the Games. But figure skating has not always been so supportive of its LGBT athletes

On Monday in Pyeongchang, Adam Rippon and Eric Radford posed for a photo together, Olympic medals proudly draped around their necks. Rippon had delivered a powerful, artistic performance as the United States claimed bronze in the figure skating team event. Radford, a pairs skater, played a crucial role in Canada claiming gold.

Embracing for the cameras afterwards, they were united not just by their sport but by history. No openly gay male athlete had ever reached a Winter Olympic podium before. Now, there were two.

Japan’s Yuzuru Hanyu, figure skating’s biggest star, completed a dramatic comeback from injury in the most satisfying way imaginable, defending his Olympic gold medal to become the sport’s first two-time men’s champion at the Winter Games since Dick Button of the United States in 1948 and 1952.

Skating third-to-last behind deafening support that amounted to a home-ice advantage, Hanyu finished with an overall score of 317.85 in his first competition in four months after suffering a right ankle injury that prompted questions over his fitness entering the Olympics.

From British speed skater Elise Christie to American prodigy Nathan Chen, via Nigeria’s unlikely bobsleigh team, a unified Korean women’s ice hockey side and more

Four years have passed since Elise Christie had an Olympic silver medal ripped from her in Sochi, and for far too many sleepless nights it remained an open sore. But three world titles last year finally extinguished that pain and the brilliant Scottish short-track speed skater goes into Pyeongchang with strong chances of a medal in the 500m and 1000m. Even a podium place in the 1500m may not be beyond her.